Hazardous Duty

America's Most Decorated Living Soldier Reports from the Front and Tells the Way It Is

By: David H. Hackworth

Narrated by: David H. Hackworth

Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

Colonel David H. Hackworth, the maverick military hero and war correspondent, has earned over 70 awards for heroism as well as eight purple hearts. More than any other military commentator, he has the trust and confidence of the millions of soldiers—from foreign armies as well as our own.

Hazardous Duty is a real-life, hard-hitting nonfiction thriller set in the ruins of Bosnia and the sands of Saudi Arabia, the deadly alleys of Mogadishu and the teeming streets of Port-au-Prince. Colonel Hackworth returns from these new American battlefields to report that the Pentagon is wasting hundred of billions of dollars gearing up to fight the wrong kind of wars, and offers a tough-love critique of American military leadership, interpreting the new post-Cold War conflicts.

©1997 David H. Hackworth (P)2009 Phoenix

It's not "About Face"

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I read this book when it first came out in the 90's and loved it. I was hoping Hack would be able to put a little extra in to make it worth getting on audio. Unfortunately, the production was half-assed and Hack seemed too tired to read his own book. That took a lot away from the story.

Has Hazardous Duty turned you off from other books in this genre?

I still love books about war and the military, and this book is good if you read the original.

Would you be willing to try another one of David H. Hackworth’s performances?

I would LOVE if they'd have Ray Porter read "About Face." Since Colonel Hackworth is dead, there will be no more books, articles or performances.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Hazardous Duty?

There is little I'd cut out, I would ADD the rest of the book that weren't read like the parts about Haiti and Croatia.

Any additional comments?

I can't stress enough that I am a big fan of David Hackworth. It's just that this audiobook was produced, edited, and performed badly. Hack just sounded tired and un-involved with his own book.

Col Hackworth is right on

Col Hackworth nailed it with this book. His assessment and narrative rand true. This book along with About Face should be required reading for all that serve in and out of uniform

Sad that it was a summary or extract.

I enjoyed this very much and especially enjoyed the fact that Colonel Hackworth (Hack) read it himself.

His observations are spot on and were uncannily positioned to have helped us sort out the last 20 years, had anyone read the book during that time.

I was delighted to know that I already knew many of the things he said and possibly actually had picked them up from his journalistic writing, done sometime before he passed away. Or oddly from training I received early in my career. See below.

The thing that sets Hack aside as an author is his incredible amount of combat time and as a record of his combat, the number of decorations he held for valor. If you check his background you will find that even down to the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) level, perhaps, there is a bona fide V (For valor) device. Hack was the recipient of eight Purple Hearts and probably declined a Purple Heart or two for wounds he thought were less life-threatening. The man was a 50 year encyclopedia of war and every aspect burnished by his own personal experience.

Two Distinguished Service Crosses (our Army’s second highest decoration for valor), 10 Silver Stars and so forth.

From Wikipedia: “Hackworth earned over 90 U.S. and foreign military awards.”

Not unimportant is the fact that he had the opportunity to work alongside the famous historian Brigadier General SLA Marshall. That is another story and worthy of exploration in Hack’s book “About Face.” Suffice it to say he learned methods of interview, deliberation, analysis and writing from Marshall. Likely evident in his writing in each of his books and articles.

Some reviewers have said they were concerned about the way Hack read or other technical aspects, but to have the person read his own book is often a pleasure. Warts and all.

Perhaps at the time he read this, the Colonel may have been in a transitional phase, possibly already ill with the disease that would ultimately kill him. Although he does say something about his family trend of living into old age. He passed away in 2005 From a cancer that he believed came from the use of “Agent Blue,” a rice destroying chemical used to reduce rice crops in certain areas of Vietnam.

I missed a chance to meet him on an operation in Bosnia years ago and I always regretted that missed opportunity. The other day I spoke to a battalion commander I served under in the mid-70s. I had heard a story that this man had worked for Hack in Vietnam, but at the time, in the 70s there wasn’t the context. I had the opportunity to talk to this former commander last weekend. And he said yes, he did and working for Hackworth was one of the most exciting times in his life and he learned so much about warfare and life. And I thanked my former commander and said to him that I was delighted to find out that the way he also instructed me and my cohort on the same topics had come from such a man as Hack.

I now have to buy the hardcopy book, because the excerpt has left me wanting to read more.

I highly recommend this recording, but understand it is not the full book. An audible recording of his book “About Face” is available and is an incredible read. I highly recommend it is well.

Good story odd audio

The story in general was pretty good. Great information and so on. The only problem was the audio. I’m sure it was recorded over several days and there were breaks during the days they were recording. It seemed like the levels were always adjusted. Hackworths voice volume would go up and down and the tone would change sometimes. This could be because he got tired as the days went on or whatever but I would find it distracting when it would happen. Like other books he’s written it’s still good and I’d still recommend it.

Excellent

Hack calls it like it is. has definitely predicted the down fall of the industrial war complex ... very true but sad

makes you think.

seen through eye of 30 years ago. makes you think. you can still see it today

Great follow up to About Face

This book was heavy! I truly hope the suggestions are someday considered and hopefully implemented.

An interesting look at what Eisenhower warned us

A quick listen of what is wrong with today's military from one of America's greatest military commanders.

Powerful

I listened to this non stop, this man knew what was up. The world needs more Hackworths and less perfume princes.

Tells the truth that military members are thinking

Dated but an excellent perspective to keep our military leaders in check. Highlights the highs and lows of our modern military.